Flash lamp



March ,1946. H. T. HIPWELL ET AL 5 FLASH LAMP Filed Nov. 23, 1945 g IZZI V NTQZL k I 'l 2 7 mm on m E Q I lllll Ill 1 I l I l I 1 l I 1| QN NmN um i A on 1 W 9 H E J Q i w r 1 II IIIIII m H,\ v w m. Q Q

Patented Mar. 5, 1946 FLASH LAMP Harry '1. Hipwell and Harry H. Hipweil,

" Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application November 23, 1943, Serial No. 511,394

4. Claims. (Ci. 240-1056) Our invention relates to flash lamps of thehand type wherein battery cells are employed for energizing the lamp.

An object of our invention is to provide a lamp of the characterreferred to, having an improved arrangement of conductor element andswitch for making and breaking the lamp circuit.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved method ofmounting a lens and a reflector in the lamp casing.

As shown on the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview through a lamp embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of one-of the contact members of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a view takenon the line III-III of .Fig. 1,

The lamp casing is adapted to contain battery cells 3 and comprises abody portion 4 of fiberreinforced or laminated plastic material which isnonconductive of electrical current. Front and rear cap members 5 and 6,respectively, which may be of suitable molded plastic, are provided forthe body portion 4 of the case.

A conductor strip 1 is riveted to the inner wall of the case, at 8, andthe rivet also serving to hold a switch plate 9 in place and to affordelectrical connection between the members 1 and 9. The outer end of thestrip I is bent backwardly at Ill, against the outer surface of themember 4 and has engagement with a threaded metallic sleeve l I that hassnug fit with the body member 4 and is rigidly heldin place thereon by aseries of indentations l2 that are deformed from the sleeve l l andembedded in the member 4. The cap 6 has screw-threaded engagement withthe sleeve l l and contains. a disc I3 which serves as a seat for aspring l4 that bears against the adjacent battery cell. When the cap isscrewed on the sleeve fully,

the end turn of the spring will engage the turneddown outer end of thesleeve l I, electrical connection thus being efiected through the sleeveI I, with the strip1. The chamber or space I 5 between the end of thecap of the disc I! can conveniently accommodate spare lamp bulbs.

The cap 5 has threaded engagement with an inner cap l5 of metal that issnugly secured to the forward end of the tube 4 as is the sleeve l I.This inner cap has fastened therein a threaded socket I! for a lamp bulbl8 and contains a disc is of insulating material that is snugly held inplace, between the end wall of the cap and the extremity of the tube 4.

The disc is has fastened thereto a yoke-shaped member 2| which seatsagainst the foremost terminal 22 of the battery. A terminal member 23 iscarried by the yoke 2|, in position to be en-- gaged by the centralterminal of the lamp l8. Electrical connection is thus had with the lampthrough the members 2| and 28, at that end of the battery.

The cap 5, near its forward end, is of reduced diameter to serve as aseat for a lens 25, and it has an annular channel 24 formed therein toserve as a support for a reflector 26. The lens 25 may be of glass, butpreferably is of transparent plastic material and unbreakable. "Thediameter of the lens is such that it can be dropped into place from therear end of the cap 5, when the cap is remover. from the tube 4.

The reflector 28 is initially formed with a backturned annular flange 21that is initially of sufficiently small diameter to permit insertion ofthe reflector into the cap, from the rear end of the cap. After the lensand the reflector have been inserted, and when the cap 5 is applied tothe tube 4,

the flange 21 is expanded by-a suitable tool into The tool couldconveniently be of Wedge form, curved about its longitudinal axis andpressed or driven against the flange to expand it. The reflector, exceptfor its polished surface, is of malleable metal so that it will remainset" in its expanded position. The reflector 26, and hence the lens 25,are thus secured in position against accidental disengagement. Therear-most edge of the reflector has only'abutting engagement with thelamp socket I! or the partition 2|! when the cap 5 is screwed on thetube for so far as it will go. By partial unscrewing of the cap 8,focusing of the light rays is possible, since such adjustment willchange the position of the reflector relative to the lamp fllament.

Electrical connection between the lamp base and the switch plate 8 ishad through the lamp socket H, the cap it, a switch contact member 28.and a movable switch member 29. The contact member 28" is of cup-shapeand has its bowl portion inserted through a hole in the tube 8 into stri29. by ears or lugs 32 thatv are struck inwardly at each side of theslide and extend through longitudinal slots in the tube 4 and the strip28, the

inner ends of the lugs being bent to hold the thumb piece ii in place.The slot in the switch plate 8 is elongated as shown at It to permitlongitudinal slidingmovement of the thumb piece'll on the plate 8. Arivet 34 extends through the slot 33 and a hole in the strip 29, theends of the rivet being enlarged to hold the strip snugly against theplate to hold it in close sliding engagement with the plate 9, the rivethaving sliding movement along the slot 33 when the thumbpiece ii ispushed to open or close the switch contac We claim as our invention:

1. A flash lamp structure comprising a tubular body for supportingbattery cells and screw threaded exteriorly at its forward end, a capmember carrying a lamp socket and having a back-turned tubular portionwith threads on its interior wall engageable with the threads on thesaid body and also having threads on its periphery, an insulatingelement supported interiorly of the cap member, a conductor on saidelement in position to engage the central terminals on a cell and alamp, a cap of generally tubular form threaded near its rear end-forconnection with the peripheral threads on the said cap member, a lens, areflector, and means within and adjacent to the forward end of thetubular cap, for supporting the lens and the reflector.

2. A flash lamp structure comprising a tubular body for supportingbattery cells and screw threaded exteriorly at its forward end, a capmember carrying a lamp socket and having a back-turned tubular portionwith threads on its interior wall engageable with the threads on thesaid body and also having threads on its periphery, an insulatingelement supported interiorly of the cap member, a conductor on saidelement in position to engage the central terminals on a cell and alamp, a cap of generally tubular form threaded near its rear end forconnection with the peripheral threads on the said cap member, a lens, areflector, and means within and adjacent to the forward end of thetubular cap, for supporting the lens and the reflector, the said reanscomprising an lntumed flange on the forward end of the tubular cap, ofless internal diameter than the diameter of the lens, and an annulargroove rearwardly of the flange for receiving the forward edge of thereflector, at the rear side ofthe lens.

3. A flash lamp structure comprising a tubular aseaose body for wantingbattery cells and screw threaded exteriorly at its forward end, a capmember carrying a lamp socket and having a back-turned tubular portionwith threads on its interior wall engageable with the threads on thesaid body and also having threads on its periphery, an insulatingelement supported interiorly of the cap member, a conductor on saidelement in position to engage the central terminals on a cell and alamp, a cap of generally tubular form threaded near its rear end forconnection with the peripheral threads on the said cap member, a lens, areflector, and means within and adjacent to the forward end of thetubular cap, for supporting the lens and the reflector, the said meanscomprising an inturned flange on the forward end of the tubular cap, ofless internal diameter than the diameter of the lens, and an annulargroove rearwardly of the flange for receiving the forward edge of thereflector, at the rear side of the lens, the lens being of smallerdiameter than the said tubular cap, at all points rearwardly of saidflange.

4. A flash lamp structure comprising a tubular body for supportingbattery cells and screw threaded exteriorly at its forward end, a capmember carrying a. lamp socket and having a back-turned tubular portionwith threads on its interior wall engageable with the threads on thesaid body and also having threads on its periphery, an insulatingelement supported interiorly of the cap member, a conductor on saidelement in position to engage the central terminals on a cell and alamp, a cap of generally tubular form threaded near its rear end forconnection with the peripheral threads on the said cap member,

a lens, a reflector, and means within and adjacent to the forward end-ofthe tubular cap, for supporting the lens and the reflector, the saidmeans comprising an inturned flange on the forward end of the tubularcap, of less internal diameter than the diameter of the lens, and anannular groove rearwardly of the flange for receiving the forward edgeof the reflector, at the rear side of the lens, the lens being ofsmaller diameter than the said tubular cap, at all points rearwardly ofsaid flange and the reflector being of malleable material whereby itsforward edge may be expanded into said groove.

HARRY T. HIPWELL. HARRY H. HIPWELL.

